The Hallyburton Johnstone Shield (HJS), New Zealand Cricket Women’s One-Day, 2025-26 Final between Northern Brave and Wellington Blaze in Wellington unfolded as a classic contest of resilience and control, with momentum swinging in phases before Northern Districts stamped their authority. The summit clash had all the ingredients of a gripping cricket final, and it was Northern Brave who eventually emerged dominant, securing their first-ever HJS championship.
Northern Brave began their innings with Jess Watkin and Yasmeen Kareem walking out under finals pressure. However, Wellington struck early when Xara Jetly trapped Watkin lbw for 10 off 14 balls, leaving the Brave at 15/1 after three overs. Kareem tried to rebuild alongside Tash Wakelin, adding 24 runs for the second wicket before Nicole Baird had Kareem caught for 16 (29 balls, 3 fours). Amelia Kerr then removed Wakelin for 9, reducing Northern Brave to 40/3 by the 10-over mark. The early breakthroughs gave Wellington Blaze the upper hand.
Caitlin Gurrey and Nensi Patel attempted consolidation, but Gurrey’s brisk 12 off 13 balls ended via lbw to Amelia Kerr at 56/4. Patel soon followed for 7, and when Marina Lamplough departed for 13 (20 balls) at 81/6, Wellington sensed an opening. Eve Wolland’s patient 7 off 30 deliveries was ended by Francis, making it 94/7 in 23.4 overs. At that stage, the innings needed rebuilding, and that responsibility fell on Holly Topp and Marama Downes.
The defining partnership of the innings came for the eighth wicket as Topp and Downes stitched together a crucial 40-plus stand. Downes was the aggressor, striking 25 off 22 balls (2 fours) before falling at 134/8. Topp, however, anchored the lower order with immense composure. Supported by Kayley Knight (14 off 31) and Lucy Boucher (12* off 23), Northern Brave steadily accumulated.
The ninth-wicket stand carried the score past 160, and despite Knight’s dismissal at 161/9, Topp remained resolute. She completed a fighting 39 off 61 balls before being the final wicket at 182 in 44.4 overs. Extras contributed 18 runs (lb 2, w 16), a factor that subtly tilted momentum.
For Wellington Blaze, Amelia Kerr was the standout with 3/49 in 10 overs, while Jess Kerr claimed 2/32. Hannah Francis (2/28) and Nicole Baird (2/22 in 6.4 overs) also chipped in. Xara Jetly’s 1/37 and Jessica Simmons’ tidy 3-over spell added support in this competitive women’s one-day final.
Chasing 183, Wellington Blaze’s innings never quite gathered fluency. Georgia Plimmer (18 off 24) and Hannah Francis (3) began cautiously before Francis fell at 18/1. Amelia Kerr managed only 4, and Jess Kerr’s dismissal for 0 left the Blaze reeling at 33/4 inside nine overs. Rebecca Burns (17 off 30) tried to stabilize with Plimmer, but wickets fell at regular intervals.
Jessica McFadyen’s 12 (25 balls) and Isla McKenzie’s stubborn 32 off 70 deliveries formed the longest resistance, carrying the score from 60/6 to 100/9 in stages. Jessica Simmons (3) and Xara Jetly (0) couldn’t accelerate, and despite Rachel Bryant’s unbeaten 10, Wellington were bowled out for 115 in 41.1 overs.
Northern Brave’s bowling unit delivered a clinical performance. Marama Downes starred with 3/26 in 10 overs, while Jess Watkin (2/25) and Kayley Knight (2/20) kept the squeeze on. Nensi Patel’s economical 1/20 in 10 overs choked the middle overs, and Lucy Boucher (1/12) and Tash Wakelin (1/8) provided key breakthroughs. Eve Wolland’s solitary over cost just one run.
In the end, Northern Brave clinched the final, their maiden HJS glory, by 67 runs, defending 182 with disciplined bowling and crucial lower-order resilience.
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